Oil heater for crank cases



F. HEIMERL OIL HEATER FOR CRANK CASES May 17, 1927. 5 9,10

. Filed March 4.- 1926 QZ J 0%12776/ Patented May 17, 1927.

ttzawi FRANK Kali-a t F .s lenaw consm;

01L HEATER non CRANK cases.

Application filed March 4, 1926. Serial No. 92,378.

My invention has for its object to provide a heater to be attached to the crank case of any standard type of internal combustion engine in connection with the exhaust pipe, whereby the exhaust gases may be deflected by valve control from the main exhaust pipe to a pan which will discharge heated gases in uxtaposition to the bottom of the crank case, whereby the oil in cold weather is prevented from congealing.

The attachment can also be utilized in warm weather as a cutout, under which conditions the pan may be removed and the gases will thus be discl'iarged directly through the lead pipe to the pan for cutout purposes, it being understood that a valve manipulated from the dashboard ot' the vehicle may control the cutout.

iVith the above and other minor objects in view the invention consists in certain peculiarities of construction and combination of parts as will be hereinafter set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings and subsequently claimed.

In the drawings v Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an engine with the attachn'ient applied;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the bottom portion of the device with parts in section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the valve portion of the device with parts in section.

Figure 1 represents a fragn'ientary view of an engine having a standard crank case 1. The standard exhaust pipe which leads to the mufiier is indicated at 2 and in this xemplification of my invention the said eX- haust pipe is connected to an elbow coupling 3 which is secured to the motor exhaust port by bolts 3 with intermediate'fianges of the elbow. The elbow is also provided with a branch nipple 4: having, as best shown in Figure 3, a port 4; that is controlled by any type of valve 5. A valve stem is eX- tended through the elbow and is in crank connection with the dashboard of the vehicle. This valve connection forms no part of my invention and is therefore not illustrated.

The elbow 4: has connectedthereto a flexible pipe section 6, to the end of which is fitted a head 7 having a neck 7' which is coupled tot-he pipe section. 'The head of the neck 7 merges into a shallow pan i,

which in this particular illustration is centrally apertured for engagement with the standard oil drain plug 9' whereby the pan is held in position in close proximity to the bottom surface of the crank case 1.

It will be noted that theedge of the pan is spaced from thebottom wall of the crank case a predetermined distance,- whereby the spent gases will be discharged in a thin sheet or spray radially from said pan,'to

thus insureheating the maximum area of the I crank case. 7

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the attachment can'readily be fitted to any standard engine by simply supplying the elbow 3 and its associated parts together with a sectional pipe 6 and the heating pan.

It is understood that the heating pan may be secured by straps, or other means, in place of being anchored, as shown in Figure 2. Particular attention is directed to the fact that in attaching my heater there are no holes to be bored, or extra parts to be fitted or attached to the engine for assembling. Hence, .the skill of a mechanicis eliminated by the purchaser when it is de sirable to install the heater, as shown.

It is also within the scope of my invention to vary the shape of the pan heater, the only requirement for said pan being that it is of such shape and proportions'that it will directly spray and deflect the exhausted gases upon the surface of the crank case.

whereby the heat will serve to prevent the oil from congealing in low temperatures. \Vhen the temperatureus moderate and it is not necessary to use the crank case heater,

I may readily remove the head which cornprises the neck portion 7 and the pan 8 from the pipe section 6, whereby said pipe section being open at its bottom will serve as a cutout for the muffler and its associated exhaust pipe 2. That is, the gases by the valve having acrank case provided with a drain plug, an attachment of disc-like contour having a central aperture surrounded by an up-' standing flange and having a 'marginal flange, said central aperture being adapted to receive the drain plug, whereby the member may be held adjacent the bottom of the crank case With the central flange contacting with the bottom of the crankcase and the marginal flange spaced therefrom, said member having an outwardly extending tubular portionopening into such member, and

a pipe connection between said exhaust manifold and said tubular portion,'\vhereby exhaust gases are distributed bysaid member adjacent the bottom of said cranl: case.

2. The combination of an internalcombustion engine having an exhaust manifold and having a crank case provided with an internally threaded drain plug boss; an-attach ment of disc-like contour having an aperture and drain plug passed through said aperture and screwed through the internally threaded drain plug boss to clamp said attachment at the bottom of the crank case, such attachment having a marginal flange and having an outwardly extending pipe connected to said exhaust manifold, and having means adgacent its top tor prO ectmg the products of combustion against thebottom "of said crank case.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at St. Nazianz, in the county of Manitowoc and State of Wis: consin.

r {-ANK HEIMERL. 

